Himalayan Yamunotri shrine opens without devotees

Portals of Yamunotri temple were opened with only a select group of priests and administrative officials attending the low-key ceremony amid the surging cases of Covid infection. The entry of pilgrims has been barred in view of the pandemic.

Uttarkashi: The portals of Yamunotri temple in Uttarakhand were opened on Friday with only a select group of priests and administrative officials attending the low-key ceremony amid the raging COVID-19 pandemic.

The entry of pilgrims has been barred in view of the pandemic.

It is for the second consecutive year that the temple has witnessed a subdued opening after its six-month closure for winter.

Read:| Portals of Yamunotri, Gangotri to open without devotees

The temple gates were opened at 12.15 pm on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in the presence of just 25 people including 'teerth purohits' and administrative officials, teerth purohit of Yamunotri temple Pawan Uniyal said.

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The first puja after the opening of the temple gates was performed on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and an amount of Rs 1101 was transferred to the account of Yamunotri Dham Temple Committee, he said.

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat appealed to devotees to offer prayers at their homes.

Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said that Devasthanam Board has been asked to make arrangements for the virtual darshan of Chardham yatra.

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Meanwhile, Devasthanam Board media in-charge Dr Harish Gaur said that all the safety protocols are being followed with the mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing, hand sanitisation, thermal screening and Covid testing.

Read:| Kedarnath temple opens for chardham pilgrimage

The number of people at the opening ceremony has been restricted to 25.

The Chardham yatra including the pilgrimage to Yamunotri has been canceled this year because of the surge in COVID cases.

However, the portals of the four Himalayan temples also known as Chardham will open as scheduled only for priests to perform regular puja.

Gangotri temple will open on Saturday, Kedarnath on May 17 and Badrinath on May 18.

Portals of the Kedar Madamaheshwar will open on May 20 while the portals of Kedar Tungnath Ji and Kedar Rudranath Ji will open on May 17.

(with agency inputs)

Read:| High Court asks Uttarakhand govt to issue guidelines for Chardham yatra